The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-20
A DAY ON THE RIVER.
WHAT CAN BE SEEN FROM THE
DECKS OF THE SYLVAN GLEN.

The Trip All Tourists Should Be Sure
Prosperous and Thriving Country.
1t has often been said that tour of
Florida is not half made without at least
one day on the broad and beautiful wa
tiers of the st. Johns river, and notwith-
standing new places have been made ac-
cessible to tourists, and they are given a
wide field from which to choose their
route, the saying is as true to-day as it
was when the tourist had no choice but
to travel on the river boats.
Along the banks of the winding river
and the broad lakes, is scenery as wild,
weird and beautiful, groves as green and
fruitful, gardens as productive and peo-
pie as prosperous, healthy and happy as
can be found anywhere. The bright
sunshine and crisp air, the ripping
waves, the lively conversation and the
curiosity of the inquisitive traveller, all
serve to while away the time and sharp
en- the appetite of even a chronic dys-
peptic.
Our advice to the tourist who finds
time hanging OH his hands, is to select
some fine day and take the elegant day
light river steamer, the Sylvan Glen,
for the round trip to Volusia bar and
return. The steamer leaves Palatka at
9:15 o'clock every morning, and returns
about $50 in the afternoon. The Sylvan
Glen is one of the largest and most ele-
gantly appointed boats on the river, and
its powerful machinery drives it over
the water at rate of speed second to
none. Capt. T. w. Lund, one of our
most popular young river men is the
master, and Mr.. X. o. Hammond is the
ever watchful and competent purser.
These gentlemen never tire in looking
after the welfare of their passengers,
and under their direction everything on
board is kept as clean, and bright, and
neat as the very neatest parlor of the
most particular old maid in the land.
Then the dinner, which the passengers
are called to discuss rs the boat plOws
the waters of Big Lake George, is JOY
worth many miles travel; cooked to per-
lection, every thing the market affords
is at the order of the epicure or the hun
CRY man, and the few hours on deck has
provided an appetite that only food in
quantity can satisfy.
Leaving busy Palatka, the first place
of note on the river is Rolleston, settled
by Lord Rolleston and his English follow
ers years ago and now the terminus of the
popular st. Johns and Halifax Railroad
which is hardly out of sight before We
rea IN San Mateo with its broad acres OF
fine groves and productive gardens
here besides are located the famous Gel
cry beds of Messrs. Tiffany, who grow
as fine celery for our markets as wa:
ever produced by the snow covered
lands of the North. Passing through
the long draw bridge of the j., T. & X.
w. Railway, we are at Buffalo Bluff, anC
under the broad branches of the mos:
covered OAKS in the midst of a most beau
tiful grove can be seen the home OF
Capt. B. F. Graw, the great locofoco oil
Florida politics. Close by Is the elegant
residence of Mr.. Harris. and the famous
orange grove Of the Ives Bros, fol-
which they paid $4,000 since the
great freeze of sc. At this point but not
in view of the river, is situated the gar
dens of Mr.. Barrentine, where the fines,
vegetables ever seen in Florida aIt
grown.
Passing the lovely Seventeen Islands
the cabbage palmetto groves, tie vine
tangled and moss covered swamp lands
the boat pulls up at Welaka, situated on
a high bluff, where many elegant resi-
dences, surrounded by magnificent oaks
and magnollas, overlook the river.
Near Welaka is the site of a little saw
mill, connected with which is peculiar
circum stance. By popular subscriptions
and benefit entertainments, the good
people of the neighborhood had raised
sufficient funds to build hall to be used
for Sunday-school and religious purposes
The building committee placed an order
for the shingles with which to cover the
hall at this little mill, and everything was
put In readiness to saw them out, wheI
the mill in some way caught fire anC
burned down. The order for the shin
giles was then carried to the Messrs
Squiers' mill, on Crystal Lake, when, OF
that very night. these extensive mill
were burned 10 the ground, entailing ;
loss of over $4,000 on the owners
Undismayed. the building committee car
ried their order for shingles to the mil
located at Sisco, and, just as that mill wa
put in readiness for filling the order, it
too, was burned down. As the insur
ance companies will not take great risk
on saw-mills, none of the owners in tina
neighborhood are anxious to fill tina
order, and the committee will undoubt
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